Page 20 · Richmond Review
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
sports
Alumnus guides Air Attack to B.C. bronze Kristy Alblas’ first-year 13U girls’ team surprising third by Don Fennell Sports Editor As an Air Attack alumnus, Kristy Alblas has gone from being schooled in the game of volleyball to teaching it. And just as in her playing days, she is finding success. Though she considers the 13U Gold Air Attack team’s thirdplace finish at the provincial girls’ championships in Abbotsford last weekend to be a surprise, it speaks to Alblas’ coaching skills and her ability to communicate with young players. “This is the first season for the girls playing on Air Attack. We are just beginners,” said Alblas, who is overjoyed by how much progress the girls have made since she first saw them at the start of the season. On opening day at provincials, after the team placed first in its pool, the Air Attack Gold took another giant step forward. Los-
ing the first set in its first playoff game, the team overcame an early deficit to win the second set and then score a 15-9 victory in the third and deciding set. The victory lifted Air Attack into the semifinals against Seaside Storm where again the team battled to a third set, but despite its hard work fell short. Rather than be discouraged, however, Air Attack retained its positivity as it prepared to face Coquitlam Ducks in the bronze medal match. The ensuing three sets were intense, with the Richmond side emerged victorious. The twice-a-week practices since January had paid off. “Being an alumnus, it was great to see the club team from the side of a coach instead of a player,” said Alblas. “I am glad I had the opportunity work with such great girls.” Alblas said there is obvious potential for the girls, most from Richmond including two from
Mitchell Elementary School where she teaches. But she said the girls are still so young, and engaged in a lot of sports and activities. “It was hard to find a time to practice all together since other activities are also running such as track and field, basketball, softball, dance and cheerleading,” she said. Alblas, who was also a key setter for the powerhouse Cambie Crusaders’ high school teams in the early 2000s, said the 13U league is different from when she played. “We play using Tripleball rules. This is where one team serves and then two free balls are thrown in and played out,” she explained. “Afterwards, the other team rotates, serves, and there are two more free balls. This allows the girls to focus on the fundamentals of volleyball. They really get to practice their free ball
Diabetes Clinic
The Richmond Air Attack 13U girls’ team, coached by Kristy Alblas, finished a surprising third at the provincial championships in Abbotsford last weekend. Team members are Jaimie Muller, Sidney Lim, Emma Lo, Myra Wu, Elizabeth Kennedy, Jessica Nonay, Anna Aitken, Robyn Lorant, Raquel Jakac, Kirstin Mann and Megan Man.
passing, setting, and attacking. It allows a lot of growth in each player.”
Next year, for 14U the regular rules will apply. “This is a growing year for the
Burtwell inducted posthumously into Basketball BC hall of fame Bob Burtwell was inducted posthumously into the Basketball BC Hall of Fame at a gala ceremony Saturday at the Langley Events Centre. The former Richmond resident, who passed away in 2012, was one of two players added to the hall. The other was Mission’s Joby McKenzie. Burtwell grew up in Vancouver and played all sports as a child. But he excelled at basketball. He captained the 1956 Canadian Olympic team
in Melbourne, Australia and represented Canada at two world championships, winning an unprecedented five Canadian championships with the Vancouver Clover Leafs. As a member of the 1947-48 Clover Leafs he was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. A dedicated athlete he continued to play pickup basketball and racquetball at the downtown YMCA well into his 60s.
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Rhythmic gymnasts stand tall
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Thursday May 7 10am to 2pm 8200 Ackroyd Road 604-278-8408
girls and gives them the opportunity to get more touches and plays in a game,” Alblas said.
Surrounded by teammates, Richmond’s Karen Salazar and Lana Randomsky shone at the Western championships.
Two Richmond girls are among the best rhythmic gymnasts in Western Canada. Karen Salazar became the allaround champion with first-place honours in the hoop exercise, and Lana Randomsky earned secondplace honours after placing third in the ribbon and fifth in the hoop routines at the western championships held last weekend in Burnaby. Both athletes train with Aura Rhythmic Gymnastics, which holds practices at the Richmond Olympic Oval as well as in Vancouver. —by Don Fennell
Lulu Island golfers impress on junior tour pharmacy
Led by 11-year-old Brycen Ko’s solid rounds of 77 and 74 to dominate the Peewee boys’ 12-and-under division, Richmond golfers enjoyed great success at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Lindsay Ken-
ney Classic at Pagoda Ridge Golf Course in Langley last weekend. Ko’s dominating 151 earned him an 11-stroke victory. He cited “sticking to his game plan of trying to hit greens and make
putts” as key to his success. “I tried my best,” he said. Three Richmond golfers were among th Sligo Skills Competition (Closest-to-the-Pin) winners—Kathrine Chan, Freddy Sun and Keith Ng.